By Petraeus standards - the surge hasn't worked.
Remember - we were supposed to give it until September, LAST September, to see if it had allowed the Iraqis to reconcile politically. Lessened violence would allow for reconciliation.
And it hasn't. By Petraeus' own measure it has been a failure. Spin, revisionism, optimism, conservative blogs, speeches by Bush and Cheney, nothing changes that bottom line. Iraq has been a failure.
Remember, the first plan was a draw-down to 33,000 troops on October 1, 2003. Yep. October, 2003. That was the plan. The situation is over except for the dying.
Arf